Questions about Rankings

from Sins Forums

I bought Sins shortly after it came out, but I never got round to playing until very recently (when I bought both Entrenchment and Diplomacy, at the same time); so I've never played without Diplomacy.

I like everything about Diplomacy, except for the diplomatic victory condition. Whether I win a diplomatic victory or the AI does, it doesn't feel like the end of a game; and I always want to keep playing. Other than a diplomatic victory, what victory conditions are there? I see the option for the number of allies for an "allied victory", but I don't understand it.

I wish there was a "score" victory condition, as this score would represent a more balanced victory. I noticed that when you go to the diplomacy screen and click on your own civilization (always the top one), you're shown your ranking in four catagories (military, economy, empire and diplomacy). I think that an excellent "victory condition" would be to try to be ranked first in each of these four catagories. Each catagory has 3 sub-catagories; which you could also strive to be ranked first in.

My question is: does anyone know exactly how rank in determined for each catagory/sub-catagory? Some are obvious; like economy (credits, metals and crystal per second). But under "empire" is colonization. Is this simply how many planets you have? or something other? Knowing exactly how all of these sub-catagories rankings are determined, could effect my choices if my "victory" goal is to be ranked 1st in each. I think that being ranked 1st in all of these catagories would represent a well balanced victory; like a score.

also: how can I find an AI civ's rankings while playing? It's important to know who you're trying to catch up to. Thanks in advance      

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Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

I see the option for the number of allies for an "allied victory", but I don't understand it.
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Aside from diplomatic victory (introduced in Diplomacy) the only other way to win is to defeat all enemies.  An enemy is considered defeated when they lose all their planets, but most players (including the AI) will surrender when they've been beat up to the point of no recovery.

Back in Entrenchment and Vanilla, it was possible to make a 5 person team in a 6-way FFA and have all five people win, which was kinda cheesy.  Allied victory limits the number of people who can win as a team, meaning that eventually that massive team is going to have to backstab each other.

I think that an excellent "victory condition" would be to try to be ranked first in each of these four catagories. Each catagory has 3 sub-catagories; which you could also strive to be ranked first in.
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I can't speak for the Diplomacy category, but the other three categories are somewhat flawed.  Often times when I'm putting together a 15-minute mark rush against an unfair AI, I'm #2 for virtually every category even as I'm kicking its ass.  While these categories generally can be used to determine where a player stands, a good tactical position can prevail even while losing on virtually every category.

does anyone know exactly how rank in determined for each catagory/sub-catagory
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Colonization is number of planets owned.  Culture is the % of phase lanes in the galaxy under the effect of your culture.  Research is the number of technologies researched (a high tech research is considered equal to a low tech research, clearly leaving this a useless measurement).  Fleet merely counts the size of your fleet.  The quality of the units making up your fleet doesn't count.  Capital ships are a composite of how many caps you own and what level they are; I'm not sure the exact weighting.  Defenses is a composite of how many tactical defense structures and starbases you own; I know starbases are heavily weighted in this metric, so it's basically a measure of who owns the most starbases.  Economy, as you say, is obvious.

how can I find an AI civ's rankings while playing?
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No, you have to scout and figure that out for yourself.  It's usually fairly obvious if you're actively snooping around.